Request doubling the amount budgeted for park shelter rejected

The Nevada Parks Board currently has $150,000 to spend on a new enclosed shelter house in Marmaduke Park and during Tuesday's city council meeting an ordinance to add $160,000 to that amount died for lack of a second after 30 minutes of discussion and the withdrawal of a second for the ordinance previously offered by Tim Wells.

This leaves the parks board in the position of seeing what they can build for $150,000 and if they need more money, going back to the council and asking for more money.

"I'd like to see what they can do for $150,000. If that won't do what the parks board wants to do, then they can ask for more," Tim Wells said.

"I never envisioned a $300,000 shelter house myself," Jim Novak, parks board president, said.

Parks board member Gina Cripps told the council that the shelter started out as a metal building and it has grown into a $300,000 building.

"Several people have contacted me saying that with the financial needs of the city, they find it hard to put $300,000 into a shelter house," Mayor Mike Hutchens said.

Council member Jayne Novak said that she thought that $150,000 would build a nice shelter house; however, she was not opposed to putting more money into it if it was needed.

"But I want to see a plan," she said.

In other business the council:

* Approved the purchase of 24 3Com VoIP phones. Licenses and associated hardware and an annual warranty from Solution Pros, Kansas City for a total cost of $12,685.50. The change from a standard telephone system to an Internet-based system will save the city about 40 percent on the annual telephone bill.

* Approved the $26,260 increase in price from Blevin's Asphalt to complete the 2008 transportation sales tax street construction projects. Blevin's told the city they had to increase the price because their original supplier of asphalt oil had canceled their contract and Blevin's had to purchase the oil from a more expensive supplier. Even with the increase in price Blevin's was still lower than the next lowest bidder.

* Voted 4-0 to approve a liquor-by-the-drink license for Ziggie's Cafe'. Ziggie's, which will be located in the former Greenfield's Restaurant building, plans to be open in September.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on first and second readings an emergency ordinance to allow members of the Nevada High School golf team to play practice rounds for free at times other than scheduled team practices during the regular season.

* Passed on first reading a general ordinance setting a limit on how dark tinted windows can be on vehicle. This is the same as the standard as set in the Missouri State Statutes.

* Passed on first reading a special ordinance declaring a centrifuge press surplus property so it can be sold.

* Voted 4-0 to adopt Resolution No. 1236 supporting Summit Development LLC application for tax credits from the Missouri Housing Development Commission to finance renovation of 44 apartments at Spring Village.

* Voted 4-0 to adopt Resolution No. 1238 approving travel expenses for council members Tim Wells, Jayne Novak, as well as, Bill McGuire, city manager and Julie Lewis, city clerk, to attend the Missouri Municipal League Conference Sept. 7 and 8 in Springfield.

* Approved a right-of-way solicitors license for the Nevada Fire Department to operate a Boot Block for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon at the intersection of Austin and Osage boulevards from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

* Voted 4-0 to give final approval to a general ordinance adopting and enacting the updated Nevada Municipal Code.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance authorizing additional policing services for the Nevada Housing Authority. The cost of the additional services will be paid for with a grant.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance setting the 2008 property tax levy for the city of Nevada at 66.96 cents per $100 assessed valuation and for the Nevada Public Library at 20 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Both the city and library tax rates are the same as in 2008.

* Voted 4-0 to give final approval to a special ordinance approving an agreement with Vernon County to collect Nevada's real estate and personal property taxes.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance approving an agreement with Vernon County to provide property assessment services for Nevada.